![[0172] (Not) A Role Model](/comics/2010-06-10-[0172]-(not)-a-role-model.png "[0172] (Not) A Role Model")
The current story arc started with this strip: Slut.
Larisa undoubtedly places the value of personal freedom above all else so it shouldn’t come as a surprise that she’s arguing for the radical reduction of social and legal obligations and the decriminalization of all victimless crimes in the first panel. I guess she could be convinced that certain kinds of behavior which are not causing harm to anyone but are potentially very dangerous when even the biggest morons would be allowed to do it (carrying guns in public for example) should still be disallowed. However, realizing such a worldview would still cause a large number of revolutionary consequences, for example the legalization of any kind of drug. I myself am of the opinion that the correct line may be hard to draw but that there are currently way too many laws that restrict one’s personal freedom. It is interesting that every country seems to have its own, most often irrational, opinion which type of behavior is a big no-no and which isn’t. In Germany prostitution is completely legal, but proving yourself to be an idiot by saying that the holocaust didn’t happen can land you in prison. Cutting all laws against behavior which is allowed almost everywhere else in the world seems to be a good starting point in my opinion.
- Larisa: I say as long as nobody gets hurt, everything should be allowed! Life is too short to let stupid conventions ruin all the fun!
- Larisa: … And, hey, it’s not like I make any boy think that we’ll still be together in college… or at the end of the week.
- Larisa: So if I’m called a slut just for enjoying my life, then I don’t mind being called a slut at all!
- Sandra: Liz, are you aware that every girl in our class got warned about you by her parents since you’re setting such a bad example?
- Larisa: Really, all of you? Cooooool.
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I agree with your personal comment, Novil. Larisa, I think, is just showing a child’s overly simplistic world view here.
Man I wish to cry. The hole Larisa slut thing is uncool. I just thought she was you average tomboy /psycho. Last time I was in school those two were way far apart.
Fight the Power!
First time I’ve seen “Liz” being used as short for “Larisa.”
She’s totally right as well! Go her, I love Larisa so much 😀
And then, they grow up, start drinking, get more intimate and the result is disaster. At least in my opion. That’s what happens when you let kids(including teenagers here) have too much freedom.
Bah, youth theses days!(I’m almost 17 and i get called old)
No offence but… I’ve never really liked Larisa in the first place. But that’s just my opinion.
You can tell that inside Larisa is really sad and lonely. Or she just does things. I could be paraphrasing.
Well … in Larisa’s defense, she hasn’t set any of the boys on fire … yet.
I’m all for personal freedoms. Especially Freedom of the press and freedom of speech. Two things which are becoming more and more threatened.
Less slut moar fire plz
I was going to say something about that comment on what should be allowed and what not, but… I’m not in the right mindset for such things now(tired and a mood leaning to bad).
But I am in the right mindset for comics. Larisa’s corporal expression while rationalizing the issue is awesome, congrats on that. ^^
Personal freedoms are great, but people need to have self-control to not do immoral things. Just my 2 cents.
@lemon, were are you? I AM 17 and I get called young, (admitedly, that could be due to my childish nature). Been reading Woo and Sandra for a while now and think it is awsome, on update days it is in the first ten (of many, way too many) of the comics I check.
If you can’t be a good example, be a WARNING.
Just one language-related thing that falls (I hope!) under the “constructive criticism” umbrella: Sandra’s dialogue in the last panel seems a bit awkwardly phrased. It might read a lot better, or at least more naturally to Americans, if she said “warned about you” instead of “warned of you,” and possibly changing “her parents” to “their parents.” (In the second case, either form is grammatically acceptable, though English tends to favor the plural pronoun in these situations.) I actually had to re-read her dialogue twice over before I got a handle on what she was saying.
As far as Larisa’s philosophy on life, I think I’ll take the diplomatic route and simply say “No comment.” However, I’ve known people in my time who share Larisa’s viewpoint, and it seems to work for them (or it did at the time I knew them), though it’s not necessarily a path I’d choose for myself. But I think at some point or another in our lives we’ve all known a Larisa…
She’s proud of that? ouch…!
You really take this “chaotic neutral”-thing serious, don’t you Novil? XD
Kinda reminds me of the pirats beeing proud of their bounty or their wanted poster ^^”’
I agree that there are many, many stupid laws that restrict and individual’s freedom, and when not followed, you can stay a lot of time and prison. However, many other laws about CRITIC events (for instance: rape, murder, etc) have ridiculously short times. I have seen in TV murderers comdemned to stay 350-1000 years in prison (life-long comdenation, obviously) which somehow turns into few more than 10 years: whereas, someone burning a flag or something similar can easily make you stay in prison for a year, and have to pay a HUGE fine. I really think that the justice system should change the mode of judging both, but obviously it’s more needed the former.
Heh, Heh, well at least Larisa isn’t being put down by this. 🙂 Some people do really overreact about how other people act.
One of the few times a punchline has actually gotten me to laugh.
So (dont flame me) she is a slVt after all? im confused
Heh, I think Larissa here is handling the situation quite positively after all, she COULD be the kind of girl who immediately starts planning on massive, humiliating revenge 😉 But if the shoe fits, wear it?
Heh. I guess it’s true what they say:
> Trick to living your life in relative peace: Don’t give a **mn. <
A few years from now, when Larisa is wondering why all the creepy guys in school are the ones paying attention to her, I hope Sandra remembers this little conversation well enough to remind her of it.
Personally, I’m of the “Your-right-to-wave-your-fist(s)-around-stops-at-my-nose” school of thought. If you want to smoke, over-eat, or otherwise screw yourself up; that’s all well and good. But please remember that doing so has *consequences*; not only for yourself, but for others — i.e. kids who might be breathing your second-hand smoke, etc. Just remember that The World is *not all about you!*
That’s hilarious! She’s completely oblivious that the parents are, in their own round-about way, calling her a slut! Let me guess; she’s that pretty but trampy girl who misses graduation because she’s in the delivery room (or worse at “the clinic”)? Sadly, every school has at least one.
totally awesome punchline… probably what i would say if i were in her position
I think Larisa should have a lot of fun, and having fun does not mean forgetting *protection* in particular circumstances. Glad to see her take the happy view 😀
I can see where she’s going at… And oddly I can agree. As long as both parties are aware and don’t suffer heartbreaks that could result in emo teens and/or voilent behaviour, I don’t see there anything too bad about it. I think. =/
I can only agree with the bulk of Novil’s comment.
It fits with Larisa’s personality,and her viewpoint does emphasize freedom above all else. I gather that Novil does not agree fully with Larisa’s sentiment, but does partially agree. I’m not positive where that line is myself.
I’m not sure where I stand, in truth. Myself I tend to think that rules and guidelines which attempt to prevent dangerous actions (including those which develop bad and destructive habits) are a good thing, but I can understand the argument that if a potentially dangerous act is supposedly victimless, then it ought to be allowed.
The division between permitted and forbidden is complex, and not the same as the division between “ought not”, “ought”, and the gap between them.
AAAAH!!! I lost my comment!!! … Why does it have to forget what I write… x'(
So again:(This is why I hate long comments. XP)
“I’m a bad example? That’s cool!” That’s Larisa for ya. X3
Know what ya mean, but there’s a reason why different places have different laws since the ppl see things in another way. For example I heard a few years ago that in Gremany if you have two witnesses you can sue ro report someone to the police if he insults you or uses curse words.
Why not change the laws? Because they are part of the culture, just think what would be in Texas if you wouldn’t be alowed to have guns? (Not so many shootings, but that’s not the point. Just understand what I wanna say!)
You know, in an early episode of Family Guy Peter accidently drops off all of his family’s presents for charity. He gets confused that they changed the definition of “for” to “from.” Brain tells him that he was sent a letter, but it said “For Peter” so he probably that it was from him. In the end, it was just easier to call him stupid.
Also, I think everyone else here is taking this comic way too seriously. They should learn not to worry so damn much.
So in the end she is or she isnt?
Priorities Larisa…priorities….
I hate to nitpick, but it should be “then” and not “than” in the third panel.
Also, this rating system is seriously flawed. People who post completely legitimate comments are getting down-rated for no reason, so much so that their posts are hidden entirely. This issue should be addressed.
Novil, in the third panel, Larisa should use “then,” not “than.”
Sorry if I’m coming off as a grammar freak, seeing as nobody else mentioned it.
Actually, no space probably finished already and I just hadn’t refreshed the page, seeing as he beat me by ten minutes. All right, I should say something else so that this post isn’t completely spam.
Ethics can somewhat be divided into what society requires and what is in line with human nature. How a culture is developed can alter many things, but there are plenty of absolutes that are rooted in our essence as human beings. Unfortunately, these absolutes are often subject to debate like everything else. I don’t blame the majority of people for not understanding them, though, because a proper analysis consists of multiple pages of philosophy, and the philosophy itself requires much logic to back up to show the average person how it is correct.
As for religion’s play in this… that’s too touchy a subject, and I already expect to get rated down for what I said about ethics.
Please treat the above as an opinion; it is a simplification of what I believe, and I don’t expect anyone to agree with it, but a clashing of opinions is a poor reason to treat somebody’s comment like trash. That said, I don’t think it was right for everyone who was open about their dislike for Larisa’s behavior to get numerous thumbs-downs.
I shall now hold my peace.
And this is exactly why I think people should be less focused on relationships and more focused on self-betterment… 😀
(Not to bash women of course, it’s mostly men who are like this IMHO)
Don’t hate me, but I kinda expected this reaction a little. Larisa is one to take things in stride.
Umm…….What’s wrong with carrying guns in public? As long as the states laws allow this there is absolutely nothing wrong with exercising your rights. I find it offensive that if I am carrying a gun I am automatically looked at as being a criminal.
Yes there should be ethics and morals, but should there be LAWS that dictate what those ethics and morals should be? I, for one don’t think so.
It partly depends on what you mean by dictate. Decide? Absolutely not. Enforce? That’s the complicated issue.
This remind me of Sade. Acording to him the only natural law is the one from the strongest.
So even if you harm someone is fine, cause animals hurt themselves every day, and The lightining dont ask permission to strike.
So if you want to kill, then kill, if you want to protect someone you can do it (is not wise acording to natural laws but you can do it).
Laws are subjective, in someplaces you are allowed to kill, in everyplace you can kill as self defense. It doesnt care, Law & Order are means to and end and nothing more. You can do anything that dont get you in trouble with others (cause the strenght of the mass is allmighty).
— merge of double post —
Justine from Sade is full of Facts and philosophy in an Erotic Horror Fantasy novel where goodness and god doesnt exist, The strongest and better positioned men tryumph no matter if they are saints or assesins.
Sade ask himself the same cuestion that Larisa does, Why should I obey? If Im stronger I can make my rules, If I am weak I need to cheat (steal, backstab, etc..) to get to the top. Society and conventions avoid me to do anything of that.
The main problem is compassion, If I feel sorry for someone then that someone is stoping me. Is easy to dont have feelings toward The Laws, conventions or institutions, but everyone have feelings of compassion for the children and the fellow humans.
If a man can achieve a Hearth of stone, then he can become a God, nothing will stop him if he achieves power, in the end is a fight between him against society, who has the upper hand at the end wins.
Evil only exists in a world of good, the good ones let themselves die and the evil let themselves kill ¿cruelty is the fault of who then? ¿the stronger or the weak? natural culture vs artificial (man made) culture
Umm… Could you please point me to some authoritative documentation on this from similar places? Thanks!
I have heard it said (and do believe that) all good laws are inherently morality based, but not all morality makes for good law.
The trick to a good set of laws is figuring out which moral values and rules ought to be legally enforced, and which ought to be left to individuals to follow or ignore.
One factor is that opinions vary greatly on what is morally good, and what is morally unacceptable. So even if you hold to absolute morality (as I do), figuring out what that code is fully is impossible.
@no space: I believe the phrase is “irony’s a &%*#$”…
Moving on…
You know, it just seems to me that Larissa would start a world record… perhaps “on the most FBI watch lists” or “setting most people on fire in a single day”… XD Maybe that’s going to be a storyline later in the comic?
I see two questions that need to be answered: First, does Larisa’s defense hold that nobody got hurt? We’ve seen her behavior hurting Sandra, and we heard about that Andrew fellow ending up in hospital. So she might be like the “racing guy” of the story who complained about getting fined by the police for speeding, since “nobody got hurt” – even though he wasn’t just driving fast in the open country where he could see that nobody was around, but instead was racing with a friend on narrow roads in a town. In other words, while nobody got hurt, he was stupid and careless when he believed his risky behavior would harm nobody.
And the second question is: how does Larisa’s behavior compare to that of other people? While people act differently, and with different reasons, they could still choose to be mean or kind in a specific situation. And we’ve already seen other people being mean, even Sandra when she’s in “revenge mode”.
Liza and Larisa – two different names… in Russia that is.
I don’t think Larissa’s a slut in regards to that there’s no touchy-touchy or anything (at least not that we know of) She’s just a girl who likes boys and maybe(probably) the attention. She’s what, eleven? I don’t think calling an eleven year old a slut is appropriate unless actually -are- sleeping around. Kids learn from experience. If someone tells them not to do something they’re going to do it anyway and (hopefully) learn from it. Not always soon enough but you know, that’s life. I’m not approving of her actions or anything, I’m just saying that she probably doesn’t know what she’s doing. Her mind’s still too young, despite how mature she tries to act, to grasp the concept that what she’s doing is “wrong”. I mean if you tell a kid not to eat too many sweets because it’s bad for them they’ll think you’re talking rubbish ’cause they taste so good. I think it shows that Larissa still has some child-like innocence. Albeit somewhat… vague.
“carrying guns iin public…”, where i live we have no “gun permit” laws. the state does not issue, or require them, and we have a peaceful and safe society where carrying a gun, or not is a private and personal choice. we do punish unlawful use of guns, severly, but our crime rate is lower than the average of neighboring states with more restrictive “gun control” laws, and even in those states the people who do have permits to legally “carry a gun in public” (usually concealed) are the most law abiding part of the population. in places where there are “gun permit” laws criminals do not, of course, obey them, just as they do not obey laws against robbery, murder and other crimes.
— merge of double post —
xeno saber,
move to vermont, you’ll be welcome here as long as you mind your own business and keep the peace, with or without your gun, as in my comment above.
I don’t think that it’s necessarily follows that, just because a girl flirts at eleven, she’ll be sleeping around by fourteen: Larisa isn’t the type who could be pressured into sex and, as she’s as flightly as a butterfly, I think that she’s most likely to continue being a flirt (and nothing more) until she genuinely falls in love.